Temple & Palaces of South India

Duration of Tour : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destinations covered: Chennai (Madras) - Madurai - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Cochin - Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore - Bangalore

Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Traditional Welcome on arrival at Chennai International airport. Transfer to hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore commercial town.
Overnight at hotel in Chennai.

Chennai is the fifth largest city in India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandal coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the Musical and Cultural Capital of India.] The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. The Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood, the second largest after movie industry (after Bollywood) in India, is based in the city.

Day 02: Chennai
After breakfast proceed for full day excursion to Mahabalipuram (60 km, 1 hr drive by road) & Kanchipuram (76 km from Chennai).
Mahabalipuram - A UNESCO World Heritage site is an architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments helps in connecting a bond with royal dynasty of Pallava.

Kanchipuram - It is well regarded as City of thousand temples. Kanchipuram attained its highest stature in 4th to the 9th centuries as capital of Pallava dynasty. Kanchi has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (A.D. 520) went to China from Kanchipuram to spread Buddhism. He stayed at the Shaolin Monastery and preached Buddhist ideologies. At that time he trained the local people in the art of Varmakkalai. The art underwent many changes and came to be known as Shaolin kung fu or boxing.

Day 03: Chennai
After breakfast proceed for guided tour of city visit one of oldest and biggest museum of India -Government Museum, first establishment of British in India-Fort St George ,One of largest auditorium of South Asia Vallur Kottam where a 33mt tall statute of poet-saint Tiruvalluv struck a awe in visitors. Late evening transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to Madurai (444 Kms- drive by train).

Day 04: Madurai
Morning arrive Madurai and check in to hotel.

Madurai - One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings.
After breakfast visit the great Tirumala Nayak Palace, Alagar Hills, Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Spare your evening to immerse in divine beauty of Meenakshi Temple.
Over night at Madurai.

Day 05: Madurai - Thekkady (137 Kms- 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast check out of hotel and start for Thekkady. Drive through paddy fields and vast spice plantation.
On arrival at Thekkady check into Hotel.

Thekkady - one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady.
Afternoon, experience the mind bowing view of calm crystal clear periyar lake to view the wildlife.
Overnight stay at Thekkady.

Day 06: Thekkady - Kumarkom (128 km- 3 hours drive by road)
After early morning breakfast and start for Kumarakom.
Arrive Kumarakom and check in at resort.

Kumarakom - When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God's own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.

Visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. In the evening canoe down the narrow canals. Join the evening sunset cruise or enjoy the beauty of backwater by just relaxing near Vembanadu Lake.
Overnight stay at the resort.

Day 07: Kumarakom - Cochin (90 Kms- 2 hours drive by road)
Disembark from house boat and proceed for Cochin. On arrival transfer to hotel. Relax for the rest of the day or take a walk along the historic colonial streets of Fort Cochin. Watch a Kathakali Show (Traditional art performance of Kerala).
Overnight at hotel in Cochin

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

Day 08: Cochin
After breakfast proceed for a guided tour of Fort Cochin and the Jew Street in Mattancherry. Visit the synagogue, century's old churches and palaces, colonial buildings, Chinese fishing net etc. Spend your evening on the nearby Fort Cochin beach or ferry across to Cherai Beach which is half an hour away. Come back to the hotel or visit Ernakulam city for souvenir and other shopping on Mahatma Gandhi Road.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Late evening transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to Bangalore (535 Kms drive by train).

Day 09: Bangalore
Morning arrive Bangalore and transfer to hotel followed by breakfast.

Bangalore - Reputed as garden city of India Bangalore is capital of Karnataka houses finest temple Gangadhareshware Temple (Cave Temple) -Built by Kempe gowda and known for its four monolithic pillars and rare idol of Agni, the God of fire. On Jan. 13/14th every year, the rays of the setting sun enter through the window; pass between the horns of the Nandi and shine on the Shiva lingam, in a unique phenomenon.
Afternoon visit to Lal bagh, Cave temple Remainder of the day is free to explore commercial section of city.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Bangalore - Hassan
After breakfast proceed for Hassan. Enroute visit Shravanabelagola. On arrival transfer to hotel.

Hassan - As base to visit remnant of one of prominent Royale Dynasty of Hoysala Empire. Era of Hoysala Dynasty was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. A excursion to visit Belur and Halebid awards an firsthand experience of understanding development of art, architecture, and religion in South India.

Shravanabelagola - 51 Kms southeast of Hassan, this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka -a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years, when the 1000 -year- old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins.

Day 11: Hassan
After breakfast proceed for excursion to Belur and Halebid.

Belur - This quaint hamlet - 38 Kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank.

Halebid - It is 27 Kms north-west of Hassan and 17 Kms east of Belur. The temples of Halebid - like those of Belur - bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labour. The Jain basadis, Channarayapatna, Ramanathpur, Gorur and Manjarabad are the other places of interest around Hassan.
Overnight in Hassan.

Day 12: Hassan - Mysore (127 Kms- 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Mysore.
On arrival check in hotel.
Mysore is defined by magnificent palaces, scenic gardens, fragrant sandalwood, luxurious silks, flamboyant festivals-- Mysore is a veritable tourist extravaganza with its glorious history and rich tradition. Located 140 Kms from Bangalore, this City of Palaces bursts at the seams with a mindboggling array of attractive destinations.

Afternoon visit to Maharaja Palace-built in 1911-12 by Wodeyar Rulers, the palace is a splendid structure in the Indo-Saracenic Style; its attraction is a magnificent gold throne. Visit Chamundi Hill, Brindavan Garden - the famous gardens at the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam.

Day 13: Mysore - Bangalore (140 Kms- 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Bangalore.
Enroute visit Srirangapatna.
Srirangapatna: Island fortress of Tippu Sultan, the legendary Tiger of Mysore who put up a valiant fight against British domination. Visit Tippu's Summer Palace, Mosque, and Sriranganatha Temple.
Arrive Bangalore and depart for onward journey with sweet memories of Temples and Palaces.